Motor-controller.



PATENTBD OCT. 16, 1905 W. A. LAGKE. MOTOR CONTROLLER. nrmouron rum) xov.2a,1 aos.

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IATENTED 0GT.16, 190e w. A. LAGKE. MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29,1905.

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PATENTED OCT. 16

W. A. man.- MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV.29,1905.

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WILLIAM A. LACKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

A li ati fil d November 29, 1905. Serial No. 289,661.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM A. LACKE, a citizen of the United States,residing at 177 N'nety-first street, Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMotor- Controllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electric motor starters andcontrollers which em body means for cutting out the starting resistancefrom the armature-circuit and so arranged as to allow the armature tospeed up sufficiently to absorb the inrush current without liability ofoverload.

The object of my invention is to provide a hand-operated motor starteror controller of this general character embodying a novel arrangementand construction of the parts, whereby a succession of solenoids willautomatically control and cut out all the starting resistance step bystep, so that no matter how carelessly the operator may manipulate thestarting and reversing switches the inrush current to the armature ofthe motor will be automatically governed and whereby the full force ofthe inrush current will be included in the armaturecircuit only after anappreciable time shall have elapsed to allow the armature to speedsufliciently to absorb the inrush current, thereby preventing anoverload and its consequent disadvantages and injurious results.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying (.lrawings, in which Figure 1 is a sectional and sideelevation of the improvements comprising my invention, the view beingtaken from what might be generally considered the front side of theswitch and. parts being shown somewhat in the nature of diagrams. Fig. 2is a diagrammatic view illustrating all of the circuits included in oneembodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 is an approximately similar viewillustrating the reverse side of the starting and reversing switch of myinvention. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections through theswitchhandle and segment that is attached thereto and that carries thebrushes for effecting the closing and opening of the various circuits,the sections being taken on the lines X X and Y Y, respectively.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In the present instance the starting and reversing switch is mountedwithin the oil-tank 1, which is provided with a cover 2, to which themain portion of the tank is detachably connected, as by clamping-screws3, so that the tank may be let down from its cover whenever desired toinspect the interior parts, such downward movement being preferablylimited by a chain 4, connected to the top of the tank and its cover,respectively, so that the tank may be suspended in position for suchinspection. The switch 5 comprises a preferably segmental plate 6,integrally connected with the actuating-handle 7 and pivotally mountedto swing in a vertical plane within the oil-tank on a pivoted stud orthe like 8, mounted in the cover 2. The segmental plate 6 of the switchcarries a predetermined number of brushes which are in the presentinstance in the form of sliding contact-plates, said brushes beingarranged, preferably, in two sets on opposite sides of a plurality ofterminals or contact-plates for the purposes of closing and opening thevarious circuits hereinafter specifically described. In the presentinstance the brushes designated 9 and 10 and 11 and 12 are for thepurpose of closing and opening the main-line circuits and for thepurpose of reversing the current in the armature-circuit, and on thesegmental plate 6 there are complementary brushes designated 9, 10, 11,and 12, re spectively, on the opposite side thereof, as best seen inFig. 3. As illustrated in the diagrammatic view the brushes 9 and 9 areelectrically connected, as are the brushes 10 and 10 From thisdescription it is evident that the brushes 9 to 10*, inclusive, are forthe purpose of closing the circuit of the mo- -tor to actuate the samein a forward directhe various brushes are secured to some stationarysupport in-a desired manner between the two sets of brushes and are heredesig nated A to F, inclusive. and B have complementary terminals A andB', arranged, preferably, in juxtaposition thereto, and the latterterminals are de- I signed for the leads of the armature-circuit with apin 18, connected to a contractile spring 18 so as to'normally hold itin one position. The pinion 18 is of such size that in moving the switchfrom one contact-spring F to another,or,in other words-,fromone step 'tothe ,neXt, the pinion will revolve once.

This will insure the contact being made accurately. It will beunderstood that the oil-tank, which submerges in oil all of the contactsof the switch, thereby insures the prevention of all injury which wouldotherwise result from arcing, the oil immediatelyelfectinganextinguishing of allof the arcs, andthereby protecting all ofthe parts from the injurious blistering which would otherwise ensue. I

The switch-handle 7 is provided -with a roller 19, which; in the normalcentral position of the handle is in operative contact with the arm 20,fulcrumed at 21 on a bracket 22 and carrying at its other end apreferably bronze spring 23, to which a copper contactblock 24 isattached. The spring 25 is-se cured to the arm'20 and to the cover 2 andtends to draw the arm 20 in a direction to make contact between theblock 24 and a similar block 26, and this action of the spring 25 isprevented when the switchhandle 7 is in the central position by means ofthe roller 19 which holds the arm 20 in such position that the blocks 24and 26 are out of contact witheach other. When the switch-handle ismoved in one direction or theother,.the pin 19 willbe moved off thecenter and out of engagement with the arm 20 and will thereby permit thespring 25 to act to effect the contact of the blocks 24 and 26; but theaction of the spring and the movement of the said arm are retarded bymeans of an oil-gag or other form of dash- The terminals A anism, andeach of which in turn governs or controls the next succeeding'solenoidin such manner that each solenoid which is connected to a predeterminedstep in the resistance ofthe armature-circuit will operate only afterthe solenoid for the preceding step in the resistance has. operated. Asshown in Fig. 1, these solenoids are electromagnetic switches comprises.in the'present embodiment of the invention a solenoid 29, provided witha core 30, carrying at one end an armature'31, designed to bridgeterminals F and R, respectively, when the solenoid is energized to liftits core. The'other end of the core 30 is connected by a link 32 to oneend of a rockingarm 33, fulcrumed at 34 and carrying a roller 35normally in engagement with an arm 36, similar to the arm 20, and

gag, or other dash-pot mechanism, and'a contact-block, as shown. Withthis lastnamed contact-block (designated 37) there is designed to coacta contact-block 38, which is adjustably mounted, as shown, and isconnected to the common return for the current from all of theelectromagnetswitches, as will be hereinafter described.

In connection with a. solenoid 29 and its concomitant parts is apredetermined'number of similar solenoids which I have not deemed itnecessary to illustrate and describe in de-' tail, but will describetheir function and operation in connection with the other parts of themechanism. .In the drawings the entire resistance to be cut out from thearmature-circuit is designated by legend and the several steps in theresistance are respectively designated R, R R", and R The field for themotor is also properly designated and illustrated diagrammatically, asare also the armature and its leads.

Having described the mechanical features of my invention and such partsof the electrical mechanism which depend upon mechanical devices foractuation, I s all now proceed to describe the various circuits inconnection with a description of the oper ation of the device forcutting out the various steps in the resistance.

In the practical use of my invention if the handle 7 is turned so as tobring the brushes 9 and 10 into contact with the terminals A and B andthe brushes 9 and 10 simultaneously with the terminals A and B thecircuit to the motor will be closed with all of the resistance in, a andthe path of the current would be as follows: from the plus side of theline to the terminal B and brush 10 to brush also provided with anactuating-spring, oil- 10 to the armature-lead 100, around the artiveside of the line. When the motor is reversed, the handle 7 is moved inan opposite direction, so as to bring the brushes 11 and 12 intoengagement with the terminals A and B and the brushes A and B. The pathof the current will then be as follows: from the plus side of the lineto the terminal B, brush 12, through the switch to brush 1]., thence tothe terminal or-contact A to the armaturelead 100", around the armature,back through the armature-lead 100, thence to the brush 12?, through theswitch to the brush 11, and, finally, out through the terminal A aroundthe field of the motor and through all of the resistance back to thenegative side of the line. So far I have described circuits with all ofthe resistance cut in. trace the path of the current and describe thecircuits when the handle 7 is pulled to the right far enough to effectthe engagement of one of the resistance cut-out brushes and its properterminal or contact-plate to efi'ect the cutting out of one step in theresistance. hen the handle 7 is pulled over just far enough to allow thebrush 13 to contact with the terminal or contact C, the current willflow from the line and contact-block 24 over the contact-plate C, and,if sulficient time has elapsed to allow the blocks 24 and 26 to comeinto contact with each other the current will flow to and through thesolenoid 29, energizing the latter, and causing the core 30 thereof topull up the armature 31 therein to bridge the contacts F and R. The pathof this shunt current or electromagnetswitch current will be as follows:from the plus side of the line through the terminal B and brush 12,brush 13, terminal C, blocks 24 and 26, solenoid. 29, and commonreturnpoint 200 for all of the electromagnetswi-tches, and thence backto the negative side line. The path of the current around the armaturewith the parts actu ated. as just described will be from the plus sideof the line to the terminal B, brush 12, to the brush 11, armature-lead100, around the armature through armature-lead 100, brush 12 brush 11,terminal A, through the field to the contact F of the firstelectromagnetic switch or solenoid 29, through the armature 31 to theother contact R of said solenoid, thence to R in the resistance andthrough the remaining steps of the resistance out to the negative sideof the line. By throwing the switch-handle 7 farther over so as to bringthe contact D and brush 1 1 in contact, the second of theelectromagnetic switches will cut in, providing, however, that themakeand-break devices 37 and 38 of the first automatic switch orsolenoid shall have had time to make contact and close the circuit,thereby cutting out the resistance-steps B and. It The path of theoperating-current for the switches will then be from the plus side ofthe line to the terminal B, brush 1.2,

through the connecting-wire 300 and brush I shall now;

14 to the terminal D, thence through the second solenoid, which I havedesignated II in contradistinction to the first solenoid, which isdesignated I, through the make-and break devices 37 and 38 of thesolenoid I, if the latter and the make-and-break device 24 and 26 shallhave had. time to successfully close the circuits, and thence to thecommon return for all of the electromagnetic switches to the negativeside of the line. The path of the current through the motor will be fromthe plus side of the line to the terminal or contact B, through thebrush 12, brush 11*, contact A armature-lead 100, around the armature,back through armature-lead 100 to terminal B, to brush 12, to brush 11,to terminal A, through the field to the contacts F and R of the solenoidII to the step R in the resistance, and through said step and the otherstep R to the negative side of the line. It is believed that with thisdescription the various circuits for the other resistance-steps will beclearly comprehended and that fur ther explanation of the circuits isnot necessary.

It will of course be understood that by moving the switch-handle 7 inthe direction opposite to that described in connection with the variouscircuits the armature-current will be reversed. The operation of theelectromagnetic switch, oil-gags, or other dash-pot mechanism and theother parts of the apparatus is the same for either direction of themotor-armature current.

From the foregoing description, in connec tion with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be seen that I have provided a motor starting andcontrolling mechanism which embodies a succession of automatic orelectro magnetic switches designed to successfully cut out theresistance-steps from the armature-circuit, and are arranged so that theactuation of one depends entirely upon the previous automatic operationof the pre ceding solenoid or electromagnetic switch, whereby should theattendant throw the switch-handle over carelessly into such a positionthat without the safeguards that I have provided the motor-armaturewould receive the full force of the inrush current in a detrimentalmanner my invention will prevent the immediate short-circuit of theresistance and will automatically, by a stepby-step arrangement, insurea sufiicient retardation of the cutting-out operation and will allow themotor to properly absorb the inrush current without becoming overloaded.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Thecombination with a motor-armature circuit and resistance therefor, of asource of supply, a reversing-switch designed to connect the source ofsupply to the armature-circuit, a series of slow-closing switches eachprovided with an automatic circuitclosing device, and the said device ofone slowclosing switch being arranged in series with the solenoidcontrolling the operation of the succeeding switch whereby means areprovided for automatically closing the circuits of the various solenoidsin succession, each of said solenoids being in shunt to said resist'ance, and the automatic circuit-closing device for the first solenoid inthe series being controlled by the reversing-switch.

2. The combination with a motor-arma ture circuit, a source of supplytherefor and a resistance, of a series of solenoids, a series ofslow-closing switches each of which shunts a part of the resistanceinthe armature-circuit and each of which except the first is controlled bya preceding solenoid, and a reversing-switch designed to connect thesource of supply to the armature-circuit and designed to control theslow-closing switch of the first closing solenoid, as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. The combination with a motor-armature circuit and resistancetherefor, of a source of supply, a reversing-switch designed to connectthe source of supply to the armature-circuit, a series ofsolenoid-circuits each of which is provided with a slow-closing switcheach except the first arranged to be actuated by the preceding solenoidand each of which switches shunts a part ofv the resistance, and meanswhereby the reversingswitch in neutral position will prevent theautomatic movement of the slow-closing switch for the firstsolenoid-circuit and willpermit the action of said slow-closing switchwhen the reversing-switch is actuated to connect the source of supply tothe armature-circuit.

- ment of the switch next in succession wherej by to maintain it 1n openposition the energization of each solenoid efiecting the release of theroller, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a controller of the type described, a hand-operatedreversing-switch immersed in an oil-tank and comprising a rockingsegmental plate pivoted therein and provided with brushes designed forengagement with contact-plates or terminals in said tank, a resistancearranged for control by said switch,

automatically-operating solenoids, and auto-- matic circuit-closingdevices for the solenoids, including a spring-drawn arm, and a dash-potmechanism designed to retard the movement of said arm and a roller onthe handle of the switch designed to contact with said arm and preventthe movement thereof whereby to hold the automatic circuit-closingdevice in inoperative position.

6. In a controller of the type described, the combination of a switchprovided with an operating-handle, and two series of circuit-closingbrushes, a series of contacts or terminals arranged between the twoseries of brushes, the switch being provided with a gear at its outeredge, a spring-returned pinion meshing with said gear, a circuitclosingdevice including a spring designed to actuate the same and a dash-potarranged to retard the movement, and a roller carried by the handle of.the switch and designed to hold the circuit-closing device in aninoperative position, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a motor-armature circuit a source of supplytherefor, a resistance, and a reversing-switch designed to connect thesource of supply to the circuit of a series of solenoids arranged withautomatic circuit-closing devices in series with the solenoids next insuccession and each of said automatic circuit-closing devices beingprovided with a dash-pot mechanism, and'an automatic circuit-closingdevice for the first of said solenoids, the same being normally held inan inoperative position by the handle of the switch and being providedwith a retarding device, and means whereby the movement of saidswitch-handle in either direction will release the last-namedcircuitclosing device, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. LACKE.

